A Banksy mural on a 500-year-old farmhouse in Herne Bay, Kent, England was destroyed during its demolition on Tuesday. The artwork, titled “Morning is Broken,” depicted a young boy opening corrugated iron curtains while holding a cat. The farmhouse, known as Blacksole Farmhouse, was approved for demolition last year to make way for the construction of 67 homes by property development firm Kitewood.
The importance of the Banksy mural was not initially realized by those involved in the demolition. Contractor George Caudwell stated that they had no idea the artwork was a Banksy, and the landowner also did not know. Caudwell expressed his regret at the situation, stating that “it made me feel sick realizing it was a Banksy—we were gutted.”
Banksy shared images of the mural’s destruction on his Instagram account, with the third image overlaid with the text “Morning is broken.” The artist did not provide a caption for the post.
This is not the first time that a Banksy artwork has been destroyed. Last month, a piece titled “Valentine’s Day Mascara” in Margate, England was also destroyed. The artwork depicted a 1950s housewife with a black eye and a missing tooth as she packed a male body into a freezer chest. The theme of domestic violence against women was highlighted in this piece.
The destruction of the Banksy mural in Herne Bay raises questions about the preservation of street art and its value. Street art is often temporary and vulnerable to destruction, but it can also hold significant cultural and artistic value. The destruction of the Blacksole Farmhouse and the Morning is Broken mural serves as a reminder of the need to consider the value and importance of street art when making decisions about urban development and the preservation of cultural heritage.